Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Hits Nintendo Switch 2 With Performance Fixes and More
Nintendo Switch 2’s first year has made it easier to revisit major releases from the original console in steadier form, and the latest high-profile update is for Monolith Soft’s near-legacy JRPG, Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The game’s new Switch 2 version aims to fix the performance and clarity issues that held back the 2017 release, while also folding in substantial content upgrades.
Switch 2 update gives Xenoblade Chronicles 2 a “nearly remastered” feel
The update is positioned as a major technical overhaul: the open world of Alrest is presented with higher fidelity, smoother motion, and improved image sharpness. In the original, the ambition of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 came with drawbacks—slowdowns in busy areas and a noticeable lack of clarity, especially where Alrest gets dense. Those concerns are described as largely resolved in the Switch 2 build.
Performance and presentation are the headline changes. The Switch 2 version targets 4K in TV mode (with 1080p in handheld) and runs at 60 FPS, with the review-style impressions emphasizing that the world feels “alive” in ways the older version struggled to deliver consistently.
- Resolution: 4K TV mode; 1080p handheld
- Performance: 60 FPS
- What improves: reduced slowdown and sharper visuals in busy regions
New blades, missions, and how Torna is included
Beyond raw technical upgrades, the Switch 2 update adds quality-of-life features and fresh content. The update introduces new blade aspects for Pyra and Mythra, and it also brings in MOMO as a blade character. MOMO includes an exclusive mission, expanding the game’s content beyond what players had in the base release.
There’s also a new mode called Asalto Merc, described as mission-based gameplay where you can take direct control of the Blades.
For content completeness, the Switch 2 version includes Torna, the expansion that originally arrived after launch. It is automatically downloaded within the game file and becomes accessible from the main menu. Players who already own the original game can upgrade to the Switch 2 edition for €9.99, but that upgrade does not include Torna.
What’s already available—and what arrives next on Switch 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is part of a broader plan to bring the early saga into a single Switch 2-ready lineup. At present, Switch 2 already has the first two games in the series available, along with their expansions.
Looking ahead, Monolith Soft’s franchise is expected to round out on the system quickly: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is scheduled to arrive on December 3, and Xenoblade Genesis is planned for sometime in 2027. Genesis was teased during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct with the promise of “a new beginning.”
